Method and apparatus for producing and applying bag handles



May 15, 1962 A. FlNKE ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES W U 5 u Q F Q A, w\ m M w m m E W M j I mam A mwb w q. 3w W Ww m. MGR wt WED QED mwmmwmudut Qwt Wm OW w Filed May 14, 1959 May 15, 1962 A. FINKE ETAL 3,034,409

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Filed May 14, 1959 14 SheecsSheet 2 IN vi/vrafis A R NO F l N K E SIEGFR/ED AO57'ERL/7'ZKY May 15, 1962 A. FINKE ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Filed May 14, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 ax mm May 15, 1962 A. FlNKE ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Filed May 14, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 15, 1962 A. FlNKE ETAL 3,034,409

METHOD'AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Filed May 14, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 2/! 1 76/7 F/a/a INVENTOF Wu; 298 ARA O F/NKE 5/EGFR/ED KOSTERL/VKY 225 k WQW Afar revs y 1962 A. FINKE ETAL 3,034,409

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES May 15, 1962 A. FlNKE ETAL 3,034,409

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Filed May 14, 1959 l4 Sheets-Sheet 7 lNl/EA/TOA ARNO F/NKE lGFR/[ED KOSERL/TZKY May 15, 1962 A. FlNKE ETAL 3,034,409

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Filed May 14, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 lNVf/VTOIRS ARNO F/NKE G/EGFR/ED KCBTERLITZKY a Wang W Af/ofnaxs May 15, 1962 A. FlNKE ETAL 3,034,409

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Filed May 14, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 F/G. 30a

INVE/Vi'O/FS ARNO F/NKE S/EGFR/ED KOSTERZJTZKY May 15, 1962 A. FINKE ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES l4 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed May 14, 1959 a 30/ aqa 394 3,08

lNVi/VTO/RS ARA O F/.N K E S/EGFR/ED KOSTERL/TZK May 15, 1962 A. FINKE ETAL 3,034,409

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Filed May 14, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet l1 ARNO F/NKE S/EGFR/ED K057'ERL/7ZKY May 15, 1962 A. FINKE ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES l4 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed May 14, 1959 awn/704 5 ARNO F/NKE S/EGFP/ED KQSTERL/TZKV May 15, 1962 A. FINKE ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Filed May 14, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 illl Dru l a E R...

9Q u n awn/r535 ARNO F/NKE SIEGFR/ED xosrmurz/(r By W Afar/rays May 15, 1962 A. FINKE ETAL 3,034,409

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Filed May 14, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 /ea I69 ARNO FIN/(E S/EGFR/ED KOSTERL/TZKY United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING BAG HANDLES Arno Finke, Muhlenweg 5, and Siegfried Kosterlitzky, Hohne 413, both of Lengerich, Germany Filed May 14, 1959, Ser. No. 813,302

Claims priority, application Germany May 14, 1958 13 Claims. (Cl. 93-8) The present invention relates to bags from paper and the like material. More in particular, the present invention relates to a new and useful method for producing and applying to bags handles, and an apparatus for producing and applying to bags handles therefor.

It is known to provide handles for bags, particularly paper bags, which are U-shaped and have a grip portion which is folded both downwardly and inwardly, with respect to the bag proper, by one single fold.

There are also known in the art machines for producing and applying handles of a less advantageous type than the one just referred to. These machines are, however, not susceptible to producing and applying to the bags handles which have a downwardly and inwardly folded grip portion.

Furthermore, the known machines are not susceptible to producing and applying to bags handles having a double folded grip portion. It has been found, however, that, advantageous as the above mentioned handle with the single although downwardly and inwardly effected fold may be as compared with other known handles, it still is susceptible to further improvement, as far as its stability and sturdiness and its capability of carrying great loads as well as its adjustability to the size of the carrying persons hand are concerned.

In addition, the known machines are unsatisfactory in that their operating speed is comparatively low.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for producing and applying to bags handles having a grip portion which is folded downwardly and inwardly with respect to the bag proper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for producing and applying to bags handles which are sturdier and capable of carrying a greater load and more adjustable to the size of the carrying persons hand than known handles.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for producing and applying to bags handles having a grip portion which is double folded downwardly and inwardly, with respect to the bag proper.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for producing and applying to bags handles which operate faster and more accurately than known apparatus.

These objects as well as further objects and advantages which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by the method and the apparatus of the present invention, according to which the strip of material from which the handle is to be produced, is first double folded in its grip portion, whereupon the end portions are folded so as to form an angle with the grip portion contrary to the direction in which the strip is conveyed; the strips are then turned over and applied with the side that is now the upper side to the bags.

The invention will be better understood upon the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein,

FIGURES 1 through 11 are schematic views illustrating, in reference, the various steps comprised by the method of the present invention;

FIGURE 12 is a somewhat schematic, elevational view of a basic embodiment of the machine of the invention;

3,034,409 Patented May 15, 1962 FIGURE 13 is a somewhat schematic side elevational View of the machine of the invention shown in FIG- URE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a partial sectional view seen in the direction of arrow A in FIGURE 13;

FIGURES 15a and 15b are partly overlapping side elevational views of the handle strip conveying and processing unit of another embodiment of the machine of the invention;

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view taken along lines 16- 16 in FIGURE 15a and shows the strip supplying unit with the feed roll;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view taken along lines 17-17 in FIGURE 15a and shows part of guideand deviating-means for the strip;

FIGURE 18 is a sectional view taken along lines 1818 in FIGURE 15a and shows part of guideand deviating-means for the strip;

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view taken along lines 1919 in FIGURE 15a and shows part of glue-applying means;

FIGURE 20 is a sectional view taken along lines 2020 in FIGURE 15a and shows a further part of the glue-applying means;

FIGURE 21 is a partly sectional view taken along lines 21-21 in FIGURE 15a, and shows the unit for folding the side portions of the strip;

FIGURE 22 is a sectional view taken along lines 22-22 in FIGURE 15a, and shows the advancing means for the strip;

FIGURE 23 is a sectional view taken along lines 23-23 in FIGURE 15b, and shows the cutting means;

FIGURE 24 is a sectional view taken along lines 24-44 in FIGURE 15b, and shows segment-shaped accelerating advancing means;

FIGURE 25 is a sectional view taken along lines 25-25 in FIGURE 15b, and shows guide means for the upper belt of a belt conveyor system;

FIGURE 26 is a sectional view taken along lines 2626 in FIGURE 15!), and shows guide means for the lower belt of the belt conveyor system;

FIGURE 27 is a sectional view taken along lines 27- 27 in FIGURE 15b, and shows actuating means for a strip arresting member;

FIGURE 28 is a sectional view taken along lines 28--, 28 in FIGURE 15b, and shows strip guiding means;

FIGURES 29a, 29b, 290, are partly overlapping sectional views taken along lines 2929 in FIGURE 31,; FIGURE 29a showing the bag applying unit, FIGURE 29b showing the handle applying unit, and FIGURE 29c showing the bag depositing unit;

FIGURES 30a, 30b and 300, are partly overlapping side views of the machine as shown in FIGURE 31 by arrow C, FIGURE 30a showing the bag depositing unit, FIGURE 30b showing the handle applying unit, and FIGURE 30c showing the bag applying unit;

FIGURE 31 is a largely schematic top view of the entire machine, and more particularly, the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 15 through 30c;

FIGURE 32 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of another embodiment of the machine of the invention, and shows the upper portion of the handle forming unit;

FIGURE 33 is a somewhat schematic top view of the unit shown in FIGURE 32;

FIGURE 34 is a somewhat schematic side view of part of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 32 and 33;

FIGURE 35 is a front view of the part of the unit shown in FIGURE 34.

The method of the invention is as follows:

A strip of paper or the like material is pulled off a feed roll. Preferably crepe paper is used for producing.

the bag handle. The strip of material has twice the width of the width of the handle produced therefrom or its portions to be glued to the bag. .If crepe paper is used, it will be found of advantage to smooth the surface of the paper at the locations which are to be attached by gluing, as at 3. Thereafter, glue is applied to the side portions of the paper strip as at 4 and 5, and these portions are then folded inwardly towards the middle of the strip, thereby obtaining a strip of material 6, having twice the thickness and half the width of the original paper strip. The strip 6 is then provided with grooves 7 through 10, that is angular grooves 7 and 8 upon the visible side of the side strips now folded over the center of the strip and a short transverse groove 9 and 10 reaohing from the top of the angular grooves 7 and 8 in the strip center towards the edge of the strip on the invisible side of the strip. These grooves are provided for the corner foldings which will be referred to presently.

The strip of material 6 is then cut into a plurality of individual portions 11, each having the required length for further producing the bag handle.

The strip which heretofore had travelled in the direction of arrow 1a is now moved in the directions of arrows 1b, its motion thus being changed by an angle of 90 degrees.

Thereafter the strips are double-folded in their grip portions 14, as. shown in FIGURE 3. They are then turned by an angle of 90 degrees about their longitudinal axis and contrary to the directions of arrows 1b, as shown in FIGURE 4, whereupon the respective end portions and 16 are folded hackwardly and the corner foldings 17 and 18 are effected, thus obtaining a U-shaped configuration (see FIGURES 5 and 6). Thereafter, the handles are again turned by 90 degrees as shown in FIGURE 7, and then again by 90 degrees as shown in FIGURE 8, so that the under-side is now turned upwardly. The end portions are then provided with a layer of glue as at =19 and 20 for attaching the handles to the bags. Thereafter, the handles can be attached to the bags which is preferably done by again turning the handle by a total of 180 degrees as illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 and bringing the handles and the bags together and then pressring the glued portions 19 and 20 upon the bag (see FIG- URE I l).

The Basic Embodiment of the Machine According to a basic embodiment of the apparatus for practising the method of the invention there are provided means for preparing the strip of paper or the like material, and for cutting it into portions of the requisite lengths, folding means, corner folding means, means for turning and applying the handle to the bag, and transfer means between the latter and the strip-preparing-andcutting means.

The apparatus is adapted for simultaneously producing two handles for each bag to be applied to either side of the bag. Consequently, the apparatus is provided with two means for forming the handles and applying the same to the bag which are symmetrically disposed with respect to the bag-conveying means, the latter being, for example, arranged horizontally in between the upper and the lower handle-forming and applying means, each applying simultaneously a handle on the upper and the lower sides 'of the bags, respectively.

The upper and the lower handlefocrming and applying means are substantially alike and, consequently, it suffices to describe only one of these symmetrically disposed, substantially identical means.

The Handle Strip Producing Mechanism of the Basic Embodiment The basic embodiment of the machine of the invention comprises the following units and elements, always in duplicate so as to produce two handles simultaneously, but of which only one is described for the sake of conciseness.

The strip of material is stored on a feed roll 24; There is provided a pair of advancing rolls 21, 22, driven by a motor (not shown) at a predetermined, constant speed. Between the advancing rolls 21, 22 and the feed roll 24, the machine has a pair of smoothening rolls 25, 26, whereof roll 25 has a segment-shaped cross-section, and a glue applying unit with the glue vessel 27, the roll 28,

partly projecting into the glue vessel, and thereabove machine has the cutting unit with rotating body 33 bearing the cutting blade 34 which acts together with the stationary blade 34a and, thereafter, a further pair of conveying rolls 35, 36, and a third pair of conveying rolls 37, 33. The roll 37 has a segment-shaped and somewhat larger cross-section than the other conveying rolls. The rolls 37, 38, have a greater circumferential speed than the first and second pair of conveying rolls.

Next, there are provided four pairs of conveying rolls 39, 40; 4 1, 42; 43, 44; and 45, 46, all having the same circumferential speed as the pair 37, 38. The upper rolls can be lifted from the lower rolls of the four pairs of conveying rolls by the side bars 39a, 41a, 43a, 45a. Next to the four pairs of rolls, a reciprocahle bar 47 is adapted for arresting the movement of the strip of material (23).

The Handle Strip Transfer Mechanism of the Basic Embodiment The machine further has a transfer unit comprising a displaceable lever 51 bearing three needles 48, 49, 50 (see FIGURE 13). The reciprocating lever 51 is fulcrumed as at 55 on a reciprocating lever 56 which, inturn, is mounted on the shaft of a curved disc 52. The lever 51 is hingedly connected to a lever 54 also fulcrumed as at 55 and bearing at its opposite end a feeling roll 53 scanning the curved disc 52.

The Handle Forming and Applying Mechanism of the Basic Embodiment Next to the three needles, there is disposed a cylinder 58 rotating in the direction of arrow 63 hearing at its periphery opposite to each other the grippers 59 and 60, and adjacent thereto, the folding clamps 61 and 62, respectively. Close to the cylinder 58 there is mounted the folding knife 64 rotating in the circle 64a in the direction of arrow 64b. The folding knife 64 cooperates with the folding clamps 61, 62 in a manner described further below. Adjacent to cylinder 58 there are further provided pressure rolls 67 and 68, and the oblique bars 65, 66, as well as the tongues 69 and 70. Guide blades 71, 72, are positioned adjacent to the portion of cylinder 53 opposite to the folding knife 64. Next thereto and also adjacent to cylinder 58, a cylinder 73 rotates in an opposite sense with respect to cylinder 58 and bears grippers 74. The cylinder 73 also has a plurality of suction nozzles 75. Further glue-applying means next to cylinder 73 comprise the rolls 79, 78, 77, the latter partly projecting into a glue vessel 76 and with the roll 79 being positioned adjacent to cylinder 73.

The Bag Conveying Mechanism 0 the Basic Embodiment The machine also has bag conveying means with an upper pair of conveyor belts 32 running on rolls 90, 91, and tightened by pressure rolls 92, 93, and a lower pair of conveyor belts 83 running on rolls 94, 95, and tightened by pressure rolls 96, 97, 98. The belts pass between the cylinders 73 and 80. At one end of this conveyor system there is another conveyor system for passing the bags to the aforementioned conveyor belts, and comprising the conveyor belt 84 running on rolls 84a, 84b, and bearing a plurality of transverse push bars 85 arranged at predetermined distances from each other. Between the conveyor belts 82, 83, on the one hand, and the conveyor belt 84, on the other hand, there are disposed opposite to each other two advancing rolls 86 and 87, the roll 86 having a segment-shaped cross-section. These two rolls revolve at substantially the same circumferential speed as the rolls 90, 91, and 94, 95, for the conveyor belts 82 and 83, respectively, whereas the circumferential speed of the rolls 84a and 84b for the conveyor belt 84 is somewhat slower.

At the opposite end of the conveyor belts 82, 83, there is arranged a rack 81 for receiving the bags conveyed by the belts 82, 83.

The East Containing Handle Embodiment of the Machine According to another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES 32 and 33, the apparatus comprises means for preparing the strip, means for cutting the strips so as to obtain strip portions of the required length for a handle, handle forming means, and means for applying the handle to the bags, conveying means for conveying the bags, and transfer means for transferring the strips from the strip-preparing-and-cutting-means to the hand1e-forrning-and-applying-means.

The Handle Strip Producing Mechanism of the Bast Containing Handle Embodimelnt The machine has a I011 123 on which there is stored a strip of material for producing the bag handle, e.g. paper, and a second feed roll 125 on which there is coiled a supply of hast, also used for producing the bag handle as explained further below. Two guide rods 126 and 12 7 are associated with the feed roll 123; and are equipped with lateral guide rings 128, 129 (see FIGURE 33). Between the rods 126, 127, there is disposed an advancing roll 130.

The glue applying means of the machine comprise the glue vessel 134, and, partly projecting into the glue vessel, a central glue-applying disc 135 and before as well as behind the same, glue-applying discs 137 and 138, respectively, the latter having partly interrupted portions as at 136. A counter roll 131 revolves oppositely with respect to the sense of rotation of the glue-applying discs 135, 137, 138.

A guide rod 140 provided with adjustable lateral guide rings 141 and 142 is associated with the bast feed roll 125 and disposed between the latter and the counter roll 131 of the glue-applying means for the strip of material, e.g. the paper strip 122.

Next to the glue-applying means the machine is equipped with cutting means 143 composed of the fixed knife 144 mounted on the stationary body 144a, and, arranged thereabove, two rotating knives 146 and 147 on the rotary body 145. As shown in FIGURE 33 of the drawings, the rotating knives 146 and 147 each have a recess portion 148 disposed in the central edge portion of the knife blades.

Next to the cutting unit 143, the machine has another guide rod 151 provided with two lateral, adjustable guide rings 152, 153. Thereafter, the folding device 154 is provided, with the shoe 155 having the same width as the bast strip, the rotating segment discs 156, 157, disposed at either side of the shoe 155, a first folding bar 168 and a second folding bar 161.

The Handle Strip Transfer, Forming and Applying Mechanism of the East Containing Handle Embodiment The remaining elements of the machine are identical to those of the basic embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, as described further above.

However, instead of the folding knife 64, this embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is equipped with two grooving tools 167 and 168 mounted on a driving shaft 169, and the cylinder 58 has two corresponding diagonal grooves 172 and 173 into which the grooving tools 167 and 168 are adapted to reach.

Furthermore, this embodiment has fixed plates 174, 175, close to the portion of cylinder '58 having the grooves 172, 173. These plates have enlarged end portions 176, 1757, respectively. Between the plates there are provided interior guide plates 178 and 179 (see FIGURES 34 and 35 of the drawings).

In addition, the cylinder 58 has suction nozzles 181 and 182 in its wall, and associated with a resilient plate for pressing the strip of material against the suction nozzles.

Operation of the Basic Embodiment of the Machine The strip of material, for example and preferably, a strip of crepe paper 23, is pulled off a feed roll 24 by means of the pair of rolls 21, 22. The strip of crepe paper passes between the smoothening rolls 25, 26 the roll 25 being in the shape of a segment, thereby smoothening only predetermined sections, as 3. From there the strip passes between the rolls 28 and 29 of the glue applying unit and glue is applied to the side portions of the paper strip as at 4 and 5. Then the strip is drawn through the longitudinal folding flap device 30, where the sides of the strip which have the glue 4 and 5 applied thereto are folded inwardly towards the middle of the strip, thereby obtaining a strip of material 6, having twice the thickness and half the width of the original paper strip. The thus formed strip is then guided underneath the creasing roll 31 with the projections 31a and 31b and over the roll 32, having corresponding recesses 32a and 32b. Thereby the strip is provided with the angular grooves 7 and 8 upon its upper side and the short transverse grooves 9 and 10 on its under side, reaching from the top of the angular grooves in the strip center towards the edge of the doubled strip. From the creasing unit the strip passes between the pull and forwarding rolls 21, 22, which advance the strip through the cutting unit 33, 34, 34a towards the conveying rolls 35, 36. Each time the revolving knife 34 of the knifeholder 33 reaches the lower stationary knife 34a (as shown in FIGURE 12).

The transfer means comprising the three needles 48, 49 and 50 mounted on displaceable lever 51 (see FIG- URE 13) now pierce the strip of material momentarily at rest. The reciprocating movement of the lever 51 for introducing the needles into the strip of material and reducing the same therefrom is effected about the fulcrum 55, and is controlled -by a curved disc 52 via the feeling roll 53 and the further lever 54. The fulcrum 55 is disposed on a third lever 56 which latter performs a reciprocating movement in the direction of the doubleheaded arrow 57, via a further lever not shown. By the reciprocating movement of the needles the strip of material is transferred to the cylinder 58. Here it is grasped by grippers 59 and 69, respectively. The center of the strip is now disposed over the folding clamps 61 and 62, respectively. The cylinder rotates in the direction of the arrow 63 and the folding clamps rotate therewith until they meet with the folding knife 64, rotating in the direction of arrow 64b in the circle 64a, the knife thus rotating in the opposite direction with respect to folding clamps 61, 62. As soon as one of the folding clamps encounters the folding knife 64 the grip portion 14 of the strips between the grooves 7, 9, and 8, 10 (FIGURE 1) is double-folded as illustrated in FIGURE 3. In the meantime, the grippers 59 and 60 have released the strip.

The portions 15 and 16 (see FIGURE 14) laterally project from the cylinder 58 and are folded by the oblique bars 65 and 66 about the corner folds 17 and 18. The corner portions which come to rest upon one another are firmly pressed against each other by the pressure rolls 67 and 68. The exact positioning of the folds is guaranteed by tongues 69 and 76 which come to rest an inwardly folded grip portion. not be transferred in this manner from the cylinder 58 to spaaaoe 7 against the transverse grooves 9 and 10 (FIGURE 1) of the strip of material illustrated by the dash-dotted lines in FIGURE 14.

The guide blades 71 and 72 receive the end pieces 15, 16 of the handles and bring the same into the necessary position when the strip is transferred from the cylinder 58 to the cylinder 73. The central portion 14 of the handle is gripped by the grippers 74 and the end portions 15, 16 are firmly held against the cylinder by the suction nozzles 75.

After having rotated with the first cylinder 58 and having been transferred to the second cylinder 73, the handle has been turned due to this transfer to the cylinder 73 rotating oppositely to the rotation of cylinder 58. The lower side of the handle is now accessible and can thus be glued to the bag with its glued end portion, while having If the handle would the cylinder 73, the grip portion of the handle would be outwardly folded with respect to the finished bag.

The accessible side of the end pieces 15 and 16 of the handle is now advanced to the glue-applying means 76, 77, 78, 79. It is thereby provided with the glued portions 19 and 20, as shown irr-ETGURE 8. Thereafter, it continues to rotate with cylinder 73 down to the lowermost end of the latter where the handle encounters the bags. The bags pass between the cylinder 73, supplying the upper handle and the cylinder 80 supplying the under handle. The bags move with the same speed as the handles and are advanced in the predetermined intervals, so that the two handles are applied at the proper moment in the proper position. As soon as the handles have been firmly attached to the bag, the gripper 74 releases the same and the suction of the suction jets 75 is discontinned, thereby allowing the bags with the handle to pass on to the rack 81 where the bags are stored.

The bags are advanced and kept in the requisite position bythe upper pair and the lower pair of conveyor belts 82 and 83, respectively, FIGURE 13 showing only one of each pair. The two belts of each pair come into contact with the bags at either side of the portion where the handles are to be attached. The bags are supplied to'the conveyor belts at the proper predetermined intervals by conveyor belt 84, having bars 85 taking along the bags. The conveyor system moves at a somewhat slower speed than the transport belts 82 and 83. The two advancing rolls 87 and 86,.roll'86 having a segment-shaped cross section, grasp the bags supplied by the conveyor system 84 and 85, bring them up to the higher speed of the transport belts 82, 83, and feed the bags to the latter. Due to the accelerated speed of the rolls 86, 87, the bags are safely taken over from the bars 85 before the same are moved to the lower side of the conveyor system 84. The bags are then passed between the cylinders 73, 80, each of which applies a handle to the bag whereupon the finished bags are passed onto the rack 81.

Operation of the East Containing Handle Embodiment of the ll Iachine The strip of material, for example the paper strip 122, is pulled 011 the feed roll i123. Simultaneously therewith, a strip of bast 124 is pulled off the feed roll 125. The paper strip is guided over the rods 126 and 127, between the adjustable lateral guide rings 1&8 and 129, as shown in FIGURE 33. From the rod 126 to the rod 127 the strip is advanced over the roll 130 and then to the glueapplying means, comprising the glue vessel 1-34 and the disks 135, 137, 138 and counter roll 13 1. 'In these glueapplying means the strip receives an uninterrupted central longitudinal strip of glue and two lateral interrupted longitudinal side strips of glue 132 and 133. These glue portions are applied by guiding the paper strip over the counter roll 131. Within the glue vessel 134 there rotate a central glue-applying disc 135 and before as well as behind the same the glue-applying discs 137 and 133 which are partly interrupted as at 136. After having applied the glue portions the paper strip 12 2 is united with the strip of bast 1-24. 'For this purpose, the strip of bast is guided over the guide rod .149 provided with the adjustable lateral guide rings 141 and 142. Due to these guide rings, the strip of bast is united with the paper strip as at 139 exactly in the central portion of the latter bearing the central longitudinal uninterrupted strip of glue.

The united web, composed of the paper strip and the bast strip is then advanced to the cutting means 143 comprising the fixed knife 144 and the two rotating knives 146 and 147, mounted on the rotary body 145. The rotating knives 146 and 147 have a central recess portion 148, as shown in FIGURE 33, so that the paper strip is cut at the two sides of the bast strip as at 149 and 150 only. The same effect can be achieved by providing the fixed knife with a recess portion.

The rotating knives 1 46 and 147 are irregularly spaced on the circumference of the rotary body 1 45 in such a manner, that the cuts are alternatingly spaced with the longer and the shorter distances, respectively, from each other on the paper strip. The rotary body is so positioned with respect to the glue-applying discs 137 and 138 that the cuts are produced at the beginning and at the end of the interrupted lateral longitudinal glue strips 132 and 133. The glue-applying discs perform one revolution during each full rotation of the knives; however, their circumferential speed is greater than the speed of the knives as well as the speed of the web, due to the greater diameter of the glue-applying discs. For that reason the glue is well pressed against the paper.

The web which has now been provided with the lateral cuts 149 and is then guided over a rod 151 with adjustable lateral guide rings 152 and 153 and is then advanced to the device 154 which folds the lateral glued portions '132 and 133 of the paper strip and attaches the same to the bast strip. For that purpose, the web is guided underneath the shoe 155 having the same width as the bast strip and advanced to rotating segment discs 156 and 157 disposed at either side of the shoe 155, 'so cooperating with the latter as to Vertically fold upwardly the lateral portions 158 and 159 of the Web which are provided with the glued strips 132 and 133 and which are separated from the remaining portion of the web by the cuts 149 and 150. Thereupon the lateral portion of the strip 158 is folded down upon the bast strip by means of the first folding bar 160. Thereupon, the lateral portion 159 is folded on top of the lateral portion 158 by means of the second folding bar 161, as shown at the extreme left end of FIGURE 33. The lengths of the segments 156 and 157 are so chosen that only the lateral portions provided with glue are folded, whereas the non-glued portions remain unfolded.

Thereafter, the strip which had thus been prepared is advanced by analogous means as shown with respect to the embodiment of FIGURES 12 through 14, and is cut so as to obtain individual portions of the required lengths for one handle. The individual portions are cut by the transverse cut in the middle of the'non-folded strip portion 160a and along the dash-dotted lines 161- 162a. Thus, the strip portions are provided with a portion to be glued at either side, that is portions 163 and 164, as shown in FIGURE 35, whereas the portion inbetween, that is the portion 165, is folded around the bast strip and glued therewith.

The separated strips, each having the required length for a handle, are then advanced to a plate 166 as shown in FIGURE 34 where they are conveyed to the cylinder 58 by means of needles 48 and 50, as described with respect to the basic embodiment, supra, and schematically illustrated again in FIGURE 34. The needles are inserted into the non-folded portions 163 and 164. After having reached the cylinder 58 the strips are grasped by grippers 59 and 60, respectively.

The grooves in the strip are produced by the two grooving tools 167 and 168, cooperating with corresponding grooves 170 and 171 within the cylinder 58 instead of the folding knife of the basic embodiment described further above. Thus, two diagonal grooves 172 and 173 within the strip are produced, which grooves are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the strips by an angle of 4-5 degrees.

Thereafter, the strips are further carried on by the cylinder 58, and the portions of the strip situated outside the diagonal grooves 172, 173, are pulled over fixed plates 174 and 175, and are thereby folded upwardly about the diagonal grooves. The end portions 163 and 164 are then pulled over the enlarged portions 176 and 177 of the plates 174 and 175, and are thereby brought between the flanges of the plates 174 and 175 and the two interior guide plates 178 and 179. (Compare also the dash-dotted lines in FIGURE 35.)

The strips are then pressed against the suction nozzles 181, 182, respectively, provided in the cylinder 58, by means of the plate 180, whereupon the strips are conveyed to the turning and gluing cylinder 73.

The strips are then processed in a manner and by means described with respect to the basic embodiment further above.

The Preferred Embodiment of the Machine According to another, preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, the groove applying elements 31, 32 as well as the members 25, 26 for producing a smooth surface portion on the strips of material, can be dispensed with. Furthermore, the advancing rolls 35, 36, the central pin 49 and the pairs .of rolls 41, 42 and 43, 44 are replaced by a pair of belts, as will be explained presently. The preferred embodiment is further characterized by certain changes of the folding elements 65 through 70, and in that the folding cylinder is equipped with air suction means, and in that provision is made for automatic means for applying the bags to be equipped with the handles.

This preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention will now be described in detail by referring first to FIGURES 15a, 15b through 28 of the drawings.

The Handle Strip Producing Mechanism of the Preferred Embodiment The strip of material 23, for example paper, is stored on the feed roll 24, which latter is mounted upon a bushing 186 by means of the discs 183, 184, and an adjusting ring 185 positioned upon the disc 184. A knurl screw 187 is revolvably positioned in a cover 188 which is screwed upon the bushing 186. The knurl screw is thus prevented from lateral displacement while being capable of rotary motion. The knurl screw 187 is screwed into a stationary bolt 189, which is disposed in another bushing 194), the latter being, in turn, mounted within the bushing 186. By means of the screw ring 187 the bushing 186 can thus be displaced in axial direction along the stationary bolt 189.

A braking belt 191 is attached with one end to a fixed bolt 192a screwed into the machine frame. The braking belt is partly coiled about the feed roll 24 and connected with its other end to a weight 192 so as to be tensioned and exercise a braking effect upon the feed roll 24.

Next to the feed roll the machine comprises a guide bolt 193 beming lateral, adjustable guide rings 194 and 195 for guiding the strip of material. After the bolt 193, there are provided deviating guide rolls 196, 197, 198, and, thereafter, a bolt 199 also having lateral, adjustable guide rings just as the guide bolt 193, for guiding the strip of materal between them. Each of the deviating guide rolls 196, 197, 198 consists of a bushing 1960 which is rotatably mounted on a bolt 196i; screwed into the machine frame by means of ball bearings 196a,

113 as shown with respect to the deviating roll 196 in FIG- URE 18.

The glue-applying means of the machine comprise the glue-applying counter roller 29, the glue-applying discs 28 and the glue vessel 27, which will next be described in detail.

The glue-applying counter roller 29 is equipped with means for lifting the same, shown in detail in FIG- URE 19. The roller is mounted on a bolt 280, positioned on ball bearings 201, 282 in a hollow lever 203. The lever 283 is tiltably positioned upon a bolt 284 which has been screwed into the machine frame. A hand lever 205 is rotatably positioned upon a bolt 2% attached to the machine frame. A cam disc 207 is positioned on the hub of hand lever 205. A flat iron 288 is screwed into lever 283. By actuating hand lever 205 the lever 203 can be lifted or lowered and, hence, the roller 29 is also lifted or lowered accordingly. Furthermore, provision is made for a knurl ring 209 in the flat iron 288, whose lowermost tip comes to rest upon the cam 207. Thus, the resting position of lever 293 and, hence, the glue-applying counter roller 29 can be adjusted by turning the knurl screw 209.

The roll 29 is resiliently pulled in downward direction by a spring (not shown) attached to the spring bolt 210 screwed into the lever 283.

The roll 29 is driven by a gear 211, which gear is mounted on the bolt 208 and meshes with another gear mounted upon bolt 215. This latter gear and bolt 215 form part of the other elements of the glue-applying unit which will next be described.

The glue-applying discs 28 are mounted on a bolt 215 positioned below the roll 29. A flange bearing 212 is screwed against the machine frame and the bolt 215 is rotatably positioned on ball bearings 21 3, 214 in flange bearing 212. A gear 216 is mounted on bolt 215, whereas a gear 238 is mounted upon the shaft of the advancing roll 22. The two gears are connected via inter-mediate gears 31!), 311, and the gear 238 thus drives the gear 216 and, hence, the bolt 215 bearing the glueapplying discs 28. These discs partly project into the interior of the glue vessel 27 and rotate therein. The glue vessel 27 is hingedly mounted on two levers 217, 218, which are rotatably positioned on fixed bolts 219, 220. Consequently, the glue vessel can be displaced about bolts 219, 220 so as to be removed from the glue-applying discs 28.

Close to the glue vessel 27 there is disposed a stop member 221, against which the vessel comes to rest in its working position. On either side of the glue-applying discs there are provided bars 222 and 223 to keep the side surfaces of the glue-discs free from glue. These lateral bars 222 and 223 are mounted on a bolt 226, the latter being screwed into the frame 225, by means of a knurl ring 224 and can thus be easily removed. Furthermore, the bolt 226 supports a third bar 227 extending transversely in regard to the glue-applying discs and above the respective peripheries of the same, as illustrated in FIGURE 20. The bar 227 has longitudinal slots 228.

Next to theroll 29, the machine has a guide roll 230 having lateral guide margins 231 (see FIGURE 21), and positioned in a like manner as the deviating rolls 196, 197, 19 8, i.e. it is rotatably positioned on bail bearings on a bolt attached to the machine frame. After the guide roll 23% there is provided a shoe 30 having the same width as the handle. The shoe 30 is screwed against the machine frame, as shown in FIGURES 15a and 21. Furthermore, a guide bolt 232 is also screwed to the machine frame.

The shoe 30 and the guide bolt effect a folding of the paper strip as described further below.

The machine further comprises the advancing means 21, 22, shown in detail in FIGURE 22, whose construction is generally known in the art and therefore need not be described in detail. Sufiice it to say that the upper advancing roll 21 is positioned in a lever 233, which, in turn, is mounted on a bolt 234 fastened to the machine frame, and which can be swivelled. The roll 21 is also provided with a hand lever 235' connected with a cam disc 2352:, an adjusting screw 236, and a further lever 237 connected with lever 233, and the upper advancing roll 21 can thus be swivelled in an entirely analogous manner as the roll 29 (see further above). The advancing rolls 21 and 22' are connected with each other by means of gears 238 and 2 39 and are driven through an intermediate gear 240 which, in turn, is impelled through the further intermediate gear 241.

The cutting means 33, 34 of this preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention is shown in detail in FIGURE 23. The lower knife 242 is mounted on block 34 which latter is screwed to the machine frame, whereas the upper knife 243 is screwed to a body 33, which latter is clamped upon a shaft 244 by means of the screw 245. The shaft 244 bears a gear 246 meshing with the intermediate gear 241 and transferring the driving motion to knife 243. Gear 241 is driven by gear 247, which is fixedly connected with gear 248 and rotatably positioned on a bolt attached to the machine frame. The gear '248 meshes with a further gear 249, as shown in FIGURE b.

Next to the cutting means 33, 34, the machine comprises further advancing means 37, 38 consisting of the lower advancing roll 38 and, peripherally adjacent thereto, a disc 37 with segment members 252 screwed against the disc 37 at either fiat side of the latter. The disc 37 is positioned on a shaft 253, the latter being positioned in a lever 254. The lever 254 is positioned on a bolt 255 screwed to the machine frame, and can be swivelled. The lever 254 can be finely adjusted by the knurl screw 256 via the lever 258 connected with lever 254. The disc 37 and the roll 38 are provided with a recess 26G, adapted to receive an upper and a lower belt 250, 251, respectively. The disc 37 is driven through gear 249 via the gear 259 mounted on shaft 253. Through the disc 37 the upper and the lower belt 250, 251, respectively, are driven. Associated with the upper belt there are provided a roll 45 and, between the latter and disc 47, a guide roll 39 and a pair of tension pulleys 261, 262. Associated with the lower belt is a roll 263 and, between the latter and disc 37 and roll 38, a pair of guide pulleys 264, 265 and two further rolls 266, 267.

The upper belt moves from disc 37 to the roll 45 and back to the disc 37, via the roll 39 and the pair of guide pulleys 261, 262. The lower belt moves towards the deviating roll 263 and back to the lower advancing roll 38, via the pair of guide pulleys 264, 265 and the two rolls 266, 267.

The machine is further equipped with guide means for the handle strips, as shown in FIGURE 28, and consisting of a base plate 295, upon which there are laterally mounted rails 296 and 297 reaching over the strip from both sides of the latter so that there is sufiicientspace for guiding the upper belt 250. The guide means with the base plate and the rails is attached to the machine frame 225 by means of angle irons 298. The guide rails are interrupted at the location of the advancing means 37, 38. The rail 297 only is remaining within the range of the rolls 39 and 45, so that it is possible to remove the strip by means of needles which have been omitted in FIGURE 15b for the sake of clarity.

There is also provided a stop member 47 adapted for arresting the movement of the paper strips by pressing the strip to the left and to the right of upper belt 250 on a table sheet 268. At this location the guide rails 296 and 297 are again interrupted The stop member 47 is attached to an angular lever 269, 270, fulcrumed as at 271. At the lower end of lever arm 270 there is hingedly mounted a fiat iron 273 having a fork-shaped end portion 272. (See also FIGURE 27.) The fork-shaped end portion 272 is slid over a recess 274 .so as to permit of horizontal, reciprocating movement of the fiat iron 273 but keeping the same from falling. Apulley 275 is rotata'bly mounted on the flat iron 273'. The pulley runs along a curved disc 276, it being pressed against the latter by conventional spring means (not shown). The curved disc 176 is mounted on a shaft 277 which latter is driven by gear 249 via gear 278 at the requisite speed and the proper interval so as to arrest the strip at the requisite location.

The table sheet 268 has bulged elongated portions 281 and 282 with slots 279 and 280 provided therein, through which the transferring needles are allowed to pass.

It is further necessary to provide for means allowing for removing the handle strip from between the belts 250, 251, by the two needles 48 and 50 (to be described presently; see FIGURES 29b and 30b), and transferring the strip to a processing cylinder, such as cylinder 58 in the afore-described basic embodiment, which was, however, omitted in FIGURE 15b for the sake of clarity. Provision is therefore made for means for lifting the upper belt 250, which will now be described. The rolls and 39 are rotatably positioned on angular levers 283 and 284, which are, in turn, fulcrumed as at 285 and 286, respectively The angular levers 283 and 284 are connected with each other by rod 287 which can be elongated or shortened by turning the knurl screw 287a. The elongated arm of the angular lever 283 is hingedly connected with a lever 290 fulcrumed at 289, via a further rod 283, which can also be elongated or shortened, by turning the -knurl screw 288a. A roll 291 is rotatably mounted on the lever 290 and runs along the curved rim of-a disc 292 (see also FIGURE 3%).

A tension spring (not shown) presses roll 291 against the curved rim of disc 292. The disc 292 is mounted rotatably on the shaft 293 and is impelled by the common driving means of the machine via gear 294.

The disc 292 thus rotates at the speed and with the intervals set by the machine and its driving means, and lifts the rolls 45 and 39 at the requisite moment, via the curved disc 292, the roll 291, the lever 290, the rod 288, the angular lever 283, or the rod 287, the angular lever 284, respectively.

The Handle Strip Transfer Mechanism 0 the Preferred Embodiment Turning now to the two transferring needles 48 and 59, referred to above, the same are shown in FIGURES 29b and 30b in the position in which they pierce the handle strip in order to transfer the same. For this piercing motion, the following structure is provided. The needles 48 and are mounted on the levers 51, which latter are mounted on shaft 55. The shaft also bears a lever 54 with a roll 53, running along the edge of disc 52. As shown in FIGURE 15b, the curved disc 52 is connected with disc 292 and rotates together with the latter. The configuration of curve 52 is so adapted, that the insertion of the needles 48, 50 into the strip and their removal from the same is effected at the required moment, taking into consideration the time used for one reciprocation of levers 56.

FIGURE 3% shows the drive for the reciprocating movement of lever 56. The drive is attached to the outside of the machine frame. The shaft 293 bearing the levers 56 projects from the frame. A lever 299 is clamped to the projecting portion of the shaft 293 and is hingedly connected with a link 360, the latter again being hingedly connected with a lever 391. The lever 301 is fulcrumed at 382 and supports a roll 3G3 running in a curved disc 304. The curved disc 384 is mounted on the portion of the holding knife shaft 305 projecting from the frame. The curved disc 384 can be displaced in longitudinal slots 306 and rotates at the rhythm of the machine. Thereby, the required swivelling motion is imparted by the curved disc 334 via the lever connection 360, 299, to the shaft 293 and hence to the lever 56. 

